to enslave
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to enslave
To make someone a slave, that is, to take away their freedom and rights and force them to work under coercion and control.
Historisch gesehen wurden viele Völker besiegt und ihre Bevölkerung versklavt.
Historically, many peoples were defeated and their populations enslaved.
The verb 'versklaven' (to enslave) is derived from the noun 'der Sklave' (slave). The inseparable prefix 'ver-' is used here to express a change of state: to make someone into a slave.
Die Eroberer versklavten die besiegte Bevölkerung.
The conquerors enslaved the defeated population.
'Versklaven' (to enslave) is a transitive verb that always requires an accusative object. This object is the person or group that is being enslaved.
Der Diktator versuchte, das ganze Volk zu versklaven.
The dictator tried to enslave the entire people.
The literal meaning refers to historical or political oppression. The figurative meaning describes a strong psychological dependence, for example on work, consumption, or technology.
In der Antike war es üblich, Kriegsgefangene zu versklaven.
In antiquity, it was common to enslave prisoners of war.
In the figurative meaning, 'versklaven' (to enslave) is often used with the preposition 'von' (by) to name the cause of the dependence. One can feel enslaved 'von der Arbeit' (by work), 'von einer Sucht' (by an addiction), or 'vom Geld' (by money).
Er fühlt sich von seiner Routine völlig versklavt.
He feels completely enslaved by his routine.
to free
'befreien' and 'versklaven' express opposites. 'befreien' means to give someone their freedom back or to get out of a situation of coercion. 'versklaven' means to take away someone's freedom and rights and control them by force. This can be meant literally, but also figuratively, when someone becomes extremely dependent on something. So the difference is very clear: 'befreien' releases someone from dependence, while 'versklaven' brings someone into dependence.
Der Text beschreibt, wie Menschen früher versklavt und zur Arbeit gezwungen wurden.
The text describes how people were enslaved in the past and forced to work.
Er versucht, sich von seiner Angst zu befreien.
He is trying to free himself from his fear.